
My '07 F-450 has a huge service bed on it, and I figured it would cost out the butt to have coated, since the last 1 cost me a grand to do.. I took it down and had the bed sand blasted, cost me 200 bucks. Then I decided to let a new company here in town "shoot" it.. They only charged me 300 bucks to spray it because they didnt have to prep... I'll tell ya, thats the best thing I've ever done. Any truck I buy from now on, I will have the bed sand blasted.. I'm sure with the size of a long bed truck, the cost would be less than 500 do to in total.... I've had pallets of stuff skidded across the bed, tools drug in and out, and the liner looks brand new, but the best part is, you cant rip that stuff off no matter how hard to try, and thats because it was prepped good.. My other trucks, I have to be careful with them because you drag something out of them and you will either tear it, or pull it off the bed...
I've personally never seen a DIY bed liner hold up.. But the guys I know, including myself are hard on beds.. City folks, I doubt they would ever tear one up, their biggest problem will be with the bed liner pealing up.. By the time you figure in prep and the materials, myself I'd just have someone else do it.. That is unless you have a lot of time on your hands, which I dont... Talk to a few companies and see what they would charge if you brought them the truck already prepped, then talk with a few sand blasters to see what they will charge...